Method and apparatus for producing weight controlled groups of slicedfood product

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks of counted slices cut from an elongated mass of food product includes means for feeding the mass longitudinally along a downward feed path into a cutting path normal thereto, a rotary knife movable around the cutting path to cut slices from the mass, means below the cutting path for accumulating a selected number of the slices into a group, means positioned below the accumulating means for weighing a group of slices and producing a signal in response to the weight thereof, means for removing the group from the weighing means after the signal is produced, means for varying the rotary speed of the knife around the cutting path according to the weight signal, and means for accepting or rejecting weighed groups in response to the weight signal.

United States Patent [191 Marshall et al.

1111 3,820,428 June 28, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING WEIGHT CONTROLLED GROUPS OF SLICED FOOD PRODUCT Inventors: Robert Howard Marshall, Hinsdale;

Gary Leonard Wallace, Oak Lawn, both of I11.

Filed: Sept. 28, 1972 Appl. Nol: 293,669

US. Cl 83/38, 83/73, 83/77,

' 83/324 Int. Cl B26d 5/00, B26d 7/00 Field of Search 83/73, 77, 92, 38, 324

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1965 Gillman 83/73 5/l967 Werder 83/92 5/l973 Sanders et al. 83/73 X Primary ExaminerWillie G. Abercrombie [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks of counted slices cut from an elongated mass of food product includes means for feeding the mass longitudinally along a downward feed path into a cutting path normal thereto, a rotary knife movable around the cutting path to cut slices from the mass, means below the cutting path for accumulating a selected number of the slices into a group, means positioned below the accumulating means for weighing a group of slices and producing a signal in response to the weight thereof, means for removing the group from the weighing means after the signal is produced, means for varying the rotary speed of the knife around the cutting path according to the weight signal, and means for accepting or rejecting weighed groups in response to the weight signal.

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sum 02 or 13 PATENTEBJUNZ8 W saw 07 or 1a $820,428

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The presentj ygntion is directed towards a new and improved method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks or groups of counted slices cut from an elongated mass or loaf of a food products such as cold cuts, sausage, cheese or the like. Food products such as process cheese, luncheon meats, bologna, salami and the like are produced in elongated loaves, often four to six feet long, having generally uniform cross-sections of various shapes and dimensions. These products are sold at retail outlets to the consuming public in relatively small packages containing a selected number of relatively thin slices cut transversely from the loaf.

In commercial practice, each package containing a stack or other group of counted slices must have a-net food product weight exceeding or at least equal to a weight printed or otherwise indicated on the package. It is desirable to produce such packages which closely meet the weights indicated on the packages with a minimum number of underweight rejects. Also it is very important to minimize the amount of excess food product furnished above the weights indicated on the packages. Thus, great savings can be obtained by mass producing the packages within close tolerances on an automatic weight-controlled slicing system capable of operating at high production rates.

Prior cutters and weighe rs are capable of maintaining production rates of only about percent of the production rate of the apparatus of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention provides great economic savings in terms of an increased production rate, a reduction in the occurrence of underweight and overweight packages and a significant savings in labor cost per package.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks of counted slices cut from an elongated mass or loaf of food product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method and apparatus of the character described, which is capable of operating at high production rates and maintaining a low percentage of underweight rejects while at the same time minimizing the amount of excess packaged food product above the minimum package weight required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus of the character described which is extremely fast and reliable in operation and which is automatic from the time that a loaf of food product is first introduced into the system until after the weight classified stacks or other groups of counted slices leavethc system for further handling.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slicer-for continuously cutting successive slices from an elongated loaf of food product wherein the loaf is moved uninterruptedly along a feed path into a cutting path and wherein a speed adjustable rotary knife is provided for cutting successive slices from the loaf at a rotary speed controlled according to the weight of the slices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slicer having a new and improved feeder for feeding a loaf of food product along a feed path into the cutting path of a rotary knife.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slicer of the character described wherein the loaf is fed through a restricted orifice located above the cutting path of the knife for compressively holding and positively aligning the loaf at a level closely adjacent to the cutting path of the knife.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slicer of the character described wherein the orifice is tapered inwardly in the direction of the feeding of the loaf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slicer of the character described wherein the margin of the orifice is positioned to provide a shearing surface cooperating with the knife in the cutting of successive slices from the loaf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slicer for cutting successive slices from elongated loaves of food product wherein the speed of a rotary knife is varied in response to a signal produced from a slice weight measuring means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved slicer of the character described in combination with a stacker for accumulating slices cut successively from a loaf and for separating the slices into separate groups containing a selected number of slices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stacker of the character described wherein each successive slice cut from a loaf falls a substantially constant distance onto a receiver movable downwardly at a rate infinitely variable within a range to equal substantially the rate at which the loaf is fed to be sliced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stacker of the character described having means for rapidly releasing a group of a counted number of accumulated slices without interruption of the succession of slices from the cutter supplied to the stacker.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stacker of the character described which does not require interruption of the feed of the loaf during the time a group of counted slices is released by the stacker.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved stacker of the character described operable to rapidly deposit an accumulated stack of slices onto a weighing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved weighing system capable of accurately weighing an accumulated group of slices and producing a signal in response theretol Another object of the present invention is to provide.

a new and improved weighing system of the character described wherein the signal producedrepresents a deviation in the weight of a group of slices from a selected reference weight.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved control means for automatically controlling the apparatus of the present invention to divide an elongated mass of a food product into a plurality of separate groups, each group containing a plurality of separate members, said control means including means for weighing each of the groups and for determining whether the weight of each of the groups is within a predetermined acceptable weight range.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved control means for automatically controlling the apparatus of the present invention to divide an elongated mass of a food product into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein the control means includes means for weighing each of the groups and for generating an error signal indicative of the amount by which the weight of each of the groups differs from a predetermined desired weight.

Another obejct of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved control means for automatically controlling the apparatus of the present invention to divide an elongated mass of a food product into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality-of separate slices, wherein the control means includes a slicer mechanism having means for adjusting the slicing rate in response to a signal indicative of the amount by which the weight of each of the groups differs from a predetermined desired weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for dividing an elongated mass of a food product into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate slices, and means for forming the plurality of separate groups, wherein the forming means includes means for receiving the slices to form the separate groups sequentially, and means. for discharging each sequentially formed group from the receiving means in response to a control signal.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved means for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein the dividing means includes a slicing mechanism for forming the separate members and means for increasing the speed of the slicing mechanism in response to the receipt ofa signal indicating that the weight of one of the plurality of groups of separate members is greater than a predetermined desired weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein the dividing means includes a slicing mechanism for forming the separate members and means for decreasing the speed of the slicing mechanism in response to the receipt ofa signal indicating that the weight of one of the plurality of separate groups of separate members is less than a predetermined desired weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality-of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wheein the dividing means includes means for controllably discharg-' ing each of the groups of separate members along one of two discharge paths dependent upon the presence or absence of a control signal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein the dividing means includes means for discharging one of the groups of separate members along a first of two discharge paths in response to the receipt of a control signal indicating that the weight of that one group is outside of a predetermined acceptable weight range.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved means for dividing an eloongated mass into a plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein the dividing means includes means for discharging one of the plurality of separate groups of separate members along a second of two discharge paths after a determination that the weight of that one of the plurality of separate groups is within a predetermined acceptable weight range.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved mechanism for transferring successive groups of sliced material from a platform.

Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide new and improved mechanism of the character described comprising a platen having a plurality of fingers adapted to move upwardly through parallel slots extending inwardly from an edge of the platform and a stop member positioned above the platen to engage the uppermost of the slices to limit upward travel of the group as the group is elevated, and means for laterally moving the platen toward and away from the platform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved mechanism of th character described including means for lifting the platen from a lower to an upper level to elevate a group of slices from a platform at the beginning of a return stroke and for lowering the platen to deposit a group of slices on the upper belt runs of a belt conveyor at the end of a retur stroke.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for classifying successive groups of the slices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved classifying apparatus of the character described comprising weighing means for producing signals responsive to the weight of successive groups, a conveyor having a receiving portion and a discharging portion, the discharging portion being movable be tween a first and a second position, means for transferring successive groups from the weighing means to the receiving portion of the conveyor, and means for moving the discharging portion of the conveyor between the first and second positions in response to selected ones of the signals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved classifying apparatus of the character described wherein the conveyor has conveying and returning runs and comprises endless parallel bands 'entrained over parallel roll means at opposite ends of the runs of the conveyor and wherein the moving means axially shifts the roll means at one end of the runs in response to the aforesaid selected ones of the signals.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following description, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, of a preferred embodiment of the present inventron.

Briefly, in a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention there is provided an automatically controlled apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks of a selected counted number of slices cut from an elongated mass or loaf of food product. The apparatus includes means for feeding the loaves longitudinally in end-to-end relation along a downward feed path at a substantially constant feed rate into the cutting path of a rotary slicing knife. A stacker mechanism below the cutting path is provided for receiving and accumulating a selected number of slices into groups and then releasing or depositing the groups on a weighing system scale for measuring the weight thereof without requiring interruption of the normal feed rate of the loaves fed to the knife of the slicer. The weighing system provides a signal for initiating speed changes in an adjustable speed motor driving the rotary knife thereby to vary the thickness of the slices being cut from the loaf in response to the weight of a stack or group of slices weighed. The signal from the weighing system is also provided for initiating action of a product accept-reject mechanism which delivers the stacks in succession to a discharge conveyor. The position of delivery to the conveyor is indicative of whether or not the stack is to be accepted or rejected. A high speed transfer system is provided for removing the weighed stacks of sliced product from the scale platform of the weighing system and for transferring the stacks to the product accept-reject mechanism.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a new and improved apparatus for producing weight controlled groups of sliced food product and the like constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric diagram in schematic animated form illustrating the flow path of movement of the food product as it is moved through the various components of the complete apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view looking downwardly into the upper receiving end of a feeder for directing the loaves into the slicer of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FiG. 5 is an elevational sectional view of the feeder taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially along line 66 illustrating a drive train arrangement for the belts of the feeder;

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of the feeder drive train taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIG.

Hg. 8 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a stacker of the apparatus in accordance with the features of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the stacker;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIGS, Ila and 11b are side elevational views of a weighing system and transfer system of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 12a and 12b are top plan views of the weighing and transfer systems showing a product accept-reject mechanism of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FiG. 12A is a sectional view taken substantially along line l2A--12A of FIG. I16, and

6 FIGS. 13A, B, and C illustrate schematically an electrical controlsystem for operating and controlling the apparatus of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is illustrated in general fashion a new and improved apparatus constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention for producing weight controlled stacks or groups containing a selected number of slices cut form an elongated mass or loaf of food product such as cheese, meats, cold cuts, sausage, etc. The apparatus is especially well adapted for producing discrete Orseparate groups or stacks of a counted number of slices of food product, each group having a measured weight equal to or exceeding a selected net weight which is printed or indicated on the package in which the stack is sold. The apparatus includes a loader 30 for receiving elongated masses or loaves 32 of food product or the like and elevating, orienting and feeding the loaves in end-to-end relation onto a downward feed path toward a feeder 34. The feeder is adapted to feed the loaves at a selected feed rate into the cutting path of a rotating knife 36 of a slicer. The knife is carried on a shaft 38 generally parallel to the feed path of the loaves into the slicerand is driven by a variable speed motor 40 to vary the thickness of the slices to produce stacks or groups meeting a minimum weight requirement for a selected number of slices in a package. The knife motor and shaft are supported from a top wall 108 of a knife housing 110, which housing in turn is pivotally supported from a main apparatus housing 164 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on a pair of pivot pin assemblies 168. The main housing 164 is supported from a floor or other structure on legs 166.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting path of the rotating knife 36 beneath the top wall 108 of the knife housing is in shearing relation with the margin of lower edge of a restrictive-orifice defining ring 42 positioned at the lower or discharge end of the feeder 34. The feeder 34 guides the loaves through the restricted orifice opening which compresses and holds the product as the slices are cut therefrom. As the slices are cut by the knife they fall onto a stacker or stacking mechanism 44 (FIGS. 8, 9 and I0) for accumulation and separation into groups or stacks 46, each of which contains a counted selected number of slices having a prescribed minimum weight. The stacker 44 accumulates a counted selected number of slices which are fed from the slicer at substantially constant intervals between slices and discharges or deposits the stacks onto a scale platform 220 of a -weighing system 48 which includes means for rapidly weighing the stacks and determining whether or not a stack meets the minimum weight requirement. The weighing system provides a control signal for adjusting the speed of the motor 40 and consequently the knife speed to vary the thickness of the slices cut so that subsequent stacks will closely approach a desired optimum weight value. After weighing of the stacks has been completed the stack are removed from the scale platform by a transfer system 50 and are classified by a product accept-reject mechanism before deposit onto a discharge conveyor 52.

In accordance with the present invention the weighing system 48, in conjunction with the accept-reject system 51 of the transfer system 50, positions the stacks 46 of slices on the final discharge conveyor 52 in a manner whereby the position of the stacks indicates whether the stack is of acceptable weight or must be rejected because it is underweight or overweight. As shown in FIG. 2, one of the stacks 46 is positioned out of line with respect to the other stacks moving along the conveyor and this out of line position is an indication to an operator at asubsequent processing or machine location that the stack is a reject and should be returned for rework.

The method and apparatus 20 of the present invention is adapted to handle elongated masses or loaves 32 of meat and other food products such as cheese, etc. which is produced with a variety of different transverse cross sectional shapes and dimensions and the apparatus is adjustable by an operator to produce stacks of slices numbering in a wide range, for example from 2 to 29' slices per stack, and a wide range of stack weights, for example a range from approximately two to thirty ounces. Depending upon the density of the particular product being sliced, the number of slices in a stack to provide a given weight may vary somewhat and an operator may select both the number of slices in a stack and a minimum stack weight, as well as a tolerance range for overweight rejects to thereby minimize the amount of extra product supplied over the minimum required. A control console 39 with suitable indicators is provided for the operator for monitoring and selecting the number of slices and the weight minimum for the stacks. The elongated loaves of product to be sliced are of a substantially uniform cross-section throughout their length except possibly for the ends of the loaves which may be rounded in a sort of bullet shape.

The loaves 32 are normally brought at random time intervals by trucks or the like to the loader 30 and are unloaded to lay side by side horizontally on a table structure 54 which is positioned at a normal working or supply level. The loaves are held in readiness on the table structure and elevated one by one by an upright elevating mechanism 56 to an upper level for eventual discharge in longitudinal end-to-end relation by a lateral discharge conveyor 58. The loaves are directed laterally outwardly by the conveyor into a downwardly curving chute structure 60 which changes their direction of feed from generally horizontal toward a vertical feed path into the upper end of the feeder 34. If it is desired or necessary the bullet shaped ends 32a of the loaves may be chopped off or cropped in the loader by a pair of rotating knives 62 driven by motors 64. Details of the loader 30 are set forth in the copending United States Patent application Ser. No. 293,145, filed on Sept. 28, 1972 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The loaves 32 are directed by the feeder 34 into the slicer 37 along a downward feed path through the re stricted orifice opening in the orifice ring 42. The feed path intersects the cutting plane of the rotating knife 36 below the top wall 108 of the knife housing. The feeder 34 includes a pair of cleated endless belts 66 and 68 driven at a selected speed by a reversible feederretractor motor 70. The belts 66 and 68 are cleated on both sides and are driven by a pair of lower drive rolls 72 and 74 having cleat engaging ridges and grooves thereon for positively synchronizing the feed speed of the belts to produce a substantially constantrate of feed into the cutting path. The drive roll 72 is mounted on a shaft 76 having a toothed gear 78 on one end, which gear is in driven engagement with a main drive gear 80 (FIG. 6). The drive gear 80 is carried on a shaft 82 coupled to the output shaft of the motor 70. The cleated belt 66 is movable along a fixed, downwardly extending belt run and the opposite belt 68 is adjustable laterally toward and away from the belt run to accommodate different cross-sectional shapes and sizes of loaves that are handled by the feeder. The drive roll 74 of the cleated belt 68 is mounted on a shaft 84 having a gear 86 on one end thereof and this gear is in driving engagement with an idler gear 88 mounted on an idler shaft 90. The shaft 90 is linked with the shaft 82 by a pivot link 92 and, as best shown in FIG. 6, as adjustments in the lateral spacing between the endless drive belts 66 and 68 are made, the gear 86 is moved toward and away from the gear 78 (as indicated by the arrow A while in continuous synchronous driven engagement therewith through the main driven gear 86 and the idler gear 88. In order to insure that the idler gear 88 is continuously biased into driving engagement between the gears and 86, the shaft includes a flatted end portion 90a which is urged downwardly by a finger 92 biased downwardly by a coil spring 94 (FIG. 7).

The upper ends of the belts are supported by idler rolls 96 and 98 respectively and each belt has an inside, downward run opposite and facing the other for positive driving engagement on opposite sides of the loaves 32. As best shown in FIG. 5 the belt 66 is provided with a backing guide member 100 having a belt engaging surface formed with alternate ridges and grooves thereon providing an undulated guide path for the driv ing run of the belt. The belt 68 has a similar backing guide memberv 102 with an undulated guide surface and the ridges on one guide member are disposed opposite the grooves on the opposite guide so that a serpentine path is defined between the guides 100 and 102 by the driving runs of the belts 66 and 68. The serpentine path provided by the drive runs of the belts 66 and 68 provides for positive gripping and feeding of the loaves into the slicer 37 and a substantially constant downward feed rate is maintained with very little if any slippage. The belt backing guides 100 and 102 insure that each loaf passing through the feeder 34 is positively fed along a precise feed path into the cutting path of the knife 36 at a substantially constant selected feed rate.

the belt 66 which is relatively fixed and supported from' a structure 106. Both belt support structures extend upwardly from the top wall 108 of the knife housing 110 are offset from the axis of rotation of the knife. The wall 108 is octagonal in shape as shown in FIG. 2 and normally is positioned to overly a similarly shaped opening in the top wall of the main housing 164 when the slicer is in a normal operating position. When it is desired to clean the slicer or change the knife 36, the knife housing 110 is pivoted on the pivot axles 168 to expose the underside of the wall 102 and knife 36. The support 106 for the belt 66 includes an upright guide 112 of generally Z-shaped transverse cross-section (FIG. 4) and the lower end of this structure is attached to the housing wall 108 by a pair of pivot pins 114 having pull rings in the end for extracting the pins so that the feeder 34 may be disconnected from the knife housing 110 for cleaning or maintenance if required. The pins 114 normally extend through aligned apertures in a pair of brackets 116 secured to the guide structure 112 and a pair of upstanding brackets 118 mounted on the top wall 108 of the knife housing.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the Z-shaped guide 112 is formed with a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal fingers 120 along one flange thereof, said fingers projecting outwardly of the face of the driving run of the belt 66 for engaging and laterally guiding a transverse side of a loaf 32 fed down the feed path into the orifice ring 42. The support 104 for the belt 68 includes a similar guide 122 of Z-shaped transverse cross-section (FIG. 4) and this guide has a plurality of spaced apart, horizontal fingers 124 along one flange adapted to extend into the slots and mesh between the fingers 120 of the guide 106 when the spacing interval between the belts 66 and 68 is reduced to accommodate relatively thin loaves of food product. Pairs of guide fingers 120 and 124 thus cooperate to provide a transverse guiding surface that is adjustable in width and generally transverse to paths of the driving runs of the endless belts 66 and 68.

The guide structure 122, endless belt 68 and backing member 102 are supported for movement toward and away from the belt 66 from a pair of parallel horizontal rods 126 disposed outwardly of opposite edges of the belts 66 and 68. The support rods extend between sleeves 128 mounted adjacent the upper end of the upright 112 and mounting apertures provided in the upper end of an upright support 130 spaced outwardly of the belt 68. The drive shaft 76 and 84 for the drive rolls 72 and 74 and the shafts for the upper idler rolls 96 and 98 of the belts 66 and 68, are mounted and supported on bearings (not shown in detail) carried on the finger flangesof the respective upright guides 112 and 122. The guide 122 is provided with a pair of support sleeves 132 similar to the sleeves 128 and in sliding engagement on the support rods 126 so that the belt 68 may be adjusted in the direction of the arrows B in FIGS. 4 and toward and away from the belt 66. The upright support 130 is detachably connected to the top wall 108 ofthe knife housing 110 by means ofa pair of removable pins 134 having pull rings at one end and the pins are adapted to project through aligned openings in the lower end of the upright support 130 and a pair of upstanding lugs 136 secured to the knife housing top wall 108 (FIG. 5). By removing both sets of pins 114 and 134, the entire feeder 34 can be dismounted from the knife housing 110 of the slicer 37 and if only the pins 134 are removed, the structure of the feeder can be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 5) about the axis pins 114 to expose the lower or discharge end of the feeder and expose the removable orifice ring 42. r

Orifice rings having various different shapes and sizes of restricted orifices are insertable in an opening in the housing top wall 108 offset outwardly of the axis of the drive shaft 38 of the knife as best shown in FIG. 5. Each time that loaves of a different cross-section are sliced, an appropriately shaped orifice ring is inserted and locked in place in the opening in the knife housing top wall 108.

Adjustment of the position of the endless belt 68 toward or away from the belt 66 in the directions indicated by the arrows B to accommodate different types of product is set and controlled by a hand wheel 138 mounted on the end of a threaded shaft 140. The shaft, which extends through an internally threaded collar 142 provided on the upright, 130, is coupled at its inner end to the back side of the guide member 122 via a coupling 144. Turning of the hand wheel 138 positively adjusts and holds spacing between the belts 66 and 68 providing 'a serpentine path of selected width for the loaves 32 fed into the cutting path of the knife 36.

Referring to FIG. 4, the feeder 34 is provided with an elongated upright guide bar 146 spaced opposite the cooperating guide fingers and 124 and adjustably positioned to move toward and away from the guide fingers as well as toward and away from the faces of the belts 66 and 68 as indicated in the dotted lines of FIG. 4. The guide bar 146 is provided with a pair of support pins 148 extending outwardly and slidably mounted in openings provided in a separate upright member 150. The upright 150 in turn is slidably supported on a pair of rods 152 extending outwardly from a relatively fixed member 154. A hand wheel 156 on the outer end of a threaded adjustment rod 158 is provided for adjusting (in the direction of the arrows C" and setting the position of the guide bar 146 (FIG. 4) relative to the opposite guide fingers 120 and 124. The inner end of the adjustment rod 158 is rotatively coupled to the guide bar and the rod extends through an internally threaded collar attached to the member 150 to provide in and out position adjustment of the guide bar relative to the support member 150. The support 150 is slidable on the rods 152 and is movable in the direction of the arrows D". Clamping means is provided for securing the member 150 in a selected position on the rods 152 after an adjustment is made and a position is selected.

The elongated loaves 32 of food product are positively fed at a selected substantially constant rate along the feed path by the driving engagement of the driving runs of the cleated feed belts 66 and 68 and the product is compressed and bent in reverse direction as it moves down the serpentine path defined by the belts and their backing members 102. Each loaf is positively gripped by the belts and fed into the path of the cutting knife 36 so that little if any slippage occurs. The loaves are retained between the feed belts by the cooperating guide fingers 120 and 124 on one side and the adjustable guide bar 146 on the opposite side.

In accordance with the present invention, in order to hold precisely guide the product loaves 32 into cutting engagement with the rotating knife 36, the insertable orifice rings 42 are seated in the opening provided in the top wall 108 of the knife housing. For each different cross-sectional shape of size of loaf being slices, an appropriate orifice ring 42 is provided. The rings are dimensioned so that the dimension at the lower edge or margin of the orifice opening is slightly smaller than the normal uuncompressed cross-section of the product loaf being sliced. The loaves, being substantially uniform in cross-section, are compressed inwardly towards the longitudinal axis thereof by engagement with the walls of the orifice ring 42. The loaves are also compressed in a longitudinal direction when forced through the orifice ring because the walls of the orifice opening are convergently tapered. The orifice ring and its compression effect on the loaf supports the end portion and permits a loaf to be sliced down to its end after it is no longer in engagement with the belts of the feeder.

As shown in FIG. 5, the margin or lower edge of the,

orifice ring 42 is secured in shear cutting relation with the cutting path defined by the cutting edge of the rotating knife 36 so that precise and rapid slicing of the positively held food product loaves 32 is achieved. As slices from the loaf 32 are cut by the high speed rotary knife 36, the individual slices fall downwardly from the cutting path for grouping into stacks having a selected number of slices therein by the stacker 44 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10). The slices are cut from the loaves 32 on an uninterrupted basis as the loaves are moved downwardly into the slicer 37 at a constant rate by the feeder 34 through the orifice ring 42. It is a feature of the present invention that no interruption in feeding of the loaves is required because the stacker 44 is operable to rapidly handle and separate accumulated slices into stacks having the selected number of slices therein. In addition, the stacker 44 provides for a substantially constant distance of fall for each slice as it leaves the cutting plane to a level whereat the slice is supported either by a preceding slice as the stack is accumulating or by a support platen. A substantially constant distance of fall from the cutting path to a support level for each slice being cut is accomplished by providing a vertically reciprocating carriage 160 movable from an upper or starting level on a downward stroke at substantially the same speed as the loaves 32 are fed downwardly by the feeder 34 into the cutting path of the knife 36. As a stack is collected and the height or thickness of the stack increases, the downward travel of the carriage 160 compensates to provide essentially a constant support level for each successive slice falling from the cutting path. The stacker 44 of the present invention is operable at very high speeds so that production rates as high as 160 stacks per minute or greater are achieved. The stacker includes a rectangular enclosure or housing I62 mounted beneath the knife housing 110 and within the main housing or enclosurure 164 of the apparatus.

The carriage 160 comprises a vertical front plate supporting a pair of horizontal shaft housings 172 which project outwardly thereof and are detachably mounted on the front plate. The housings include circular base flanges 174 removably attached to the carriage plate by large headed fasteners 176. The shaft housings 172 are aligned in horizontal parallel relation and are spaced on opposite sides of a vertical centerline through the front plate 170 aligned below the downward feed path of loaves moving through the feeder 34 and the slices cut from the loaves by the rotating knife 36. As best shown in FIG. 10, the front plate ofthe stacker carriage is provided with a pair of rearwardly extending lugs 178 having vertical apertures therein and slidably disposed on an upright guide rod 180 for guiding the travel of the carriage in repetitive cycles comprising downward and return strokes. The carriage is biased upwardly to an upper starting level by a coil spring 182 disposed on the rod and a cushion 184 is provided adjacent the upper end of the rod to aid in cushioning the carriage at the end of an upward return stroke. A pair of incremental stepping motors 186 and 187 are mounted on the back ofthe carriage plate 170 and the axes of the motors are in coaxial alignment with the left and right hand shaft housings 172. The stepping motors are adapted to drive and are detachably coupled to a pair of outwardly extending platen control shafts 188 with each shaft supporting three rows of outwardly extending hair pin shaped fingers 190 arranged in planes spaced at angles apart around the axes of the shafts as viewed in FIG. 9. The sets of fingers 190 in each plane on the left hand shaft 188 comprises a paddle-like platen 192 and similarly for the right shaft, platens 192R are formed. Successive pairs of horizontally aligned intermeshing platens 1921. and 192R provide support for accumulating successive stacks of sliced product cut from the loaves 32 by the knife 36 in the cutting path above. As best shown in FIG. 9 the left and right shafts 188 are indexed by stepping motors in increments of 120 in opposite directions so that the pairs of platens 192L and 192R cooperate to discharge an accumulated stack downwardly toward the weighing system and the next pair of platens 192L and 192R then form a horizontal support for accumulating the next successive stack of slices 46 thereon. v

As additional slices are cut and added to a stack formed on the platens, the carriage is traveling downwardly at a rate substantially the same as the rate of feed of the loaves 32 into the cutting path of the knife 36. Accordingly, a substantially constant distance of fall from the cutting path to a support level is provided by the stacker 44 for the successive slices in a stack. As the last slices in the stack are being added the carriage 160 is approaching the lowestmost position, and the stepping motors 186 and 187 are energized by controlled pulses to rotatively index the shafts 188 by 120 in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 9 to discharge or release the accumulated stack of meat slices and form the next support means with a successive set of cooperative platens 192L and 192R moving into the horizontal position ready to accumulate the slices of the succeeding stack. Indexing of the shafts 188 by the stepping motors 186 and 187 is rapid so that the already accumulated stack of slices is released and the next set of platens 192L and 192R move into horizontal position with no interruption of the normal feed rate of the load into the slicer. Indexing of the platens occurs during the time that the carriage 160 is moving upwardly on its return stroke by the spring 182 so that, as the first slice arrives for the next successive stack, a substantially constant dropping is maintained. As each successive slice is accumulated in a stack, the carriage 160 has moved downwardly by an increment substantially equal to the thickness of the slice.

Travel of the carriage 160 on a downward stroke while accumulating the sliced meat product is accomplished by means of a vertical, toothed rack 194 secured to the back of the carriage platen on a supporting structure 196. The rack is in meshing engagement with a pinion 198 mounted on a pinion shaft 200 which is coupled to the output shaft of an electromagnetic particle clutch 202. An input shaft of the clutch 202 is coupled to a gear reducer 204 which in tumis coupled to the output'shaft of a continuously rotating stacker drive motor 206 through a right angle gear box 208 as best shown in FIG. 9. The stacker drive motor, the speed of which is infinitely variable over a range to enable the rate of downwardly movement of the carriage 160 substantially to equal the rate at which the load being sliced is fed to the slicer, is continuously energized and running when the apparatus 20 is in operation and the clutch 202 is intermittently supplied with power for precise intervals of time to rotate the 

1. Appratus for producing weight controlled slices from an elongated mass comprising knife means continuously rotatably driven around a cutting path, means for feeding the mass through said cutting path at a substantially constant rate to cause successive slices to be cut from the mass, and means for varying the rotary speed of said knife means in response to the weight of the slices cut from the mass.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said speEd varying means includes means for generating a signal in response to the weight of a stack containing a predetermined number of the slices cut from the mass and a controllable-speed motor driving said knife means at a rotary speed controlled in response to said signal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said speed varying means includes means for comparing said signal to a selected reference level to provide an error signal and means for changing the speed of said motor in response to said error signal to vary the thickness of the slices cut from the mass.
 4. Apparatus for slicing an elongated mass comprising a knife continuously rotatable in a slicing path, means for feeding the mass longitudinally through said slicing path at a substantially constant rate to cause successive slices to be cut from said mass, means for rotatably driving said knife at variable speeds, and means for controlling said drive means to vary the rotary speed of said knife in response to the weight of the slices.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said controlling means comprises means for generating a signal in response to the weight of an accumulated group of a selected number of the slices, means for comparing said signal with a reference value representing a desired group weight to produce an error signal, and means responsive to said error signal to change the rotary speed of said knife to vary the thickness of subsequent slices cut from the mass.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 including means for inhibiting error signals greater than a preselected value.
 7. Apparatus for producing slices from an elongated mass comprising a knife continuously rotatable around a cutting path, means for feeding the mass at a substantially constant rate through said cutting path to cut successive slices from the mass, and means for decreasing the rotary speed of said rotary knife in response to an underweight departure from a predetermined weight of a counted number of the slices and increasing the rotary speed of said rotary knife in response of an overweight departure from said predetermined weight of the counted number of the slices.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said speed increasing and decreasing means includes a variable speed motor, means for varying the speed of said motor in response to an error signal, means for producing a weight signal in response to the weight of a counted number of said slices, and means for comparing said weight signal to a value representing said predetermined weight to produce said error signal.
 9. Method of producing slices from an elongated mass comprising the steps of feeding the mass through the cutting path of a rotary knife to cause successive slices to be cut from the mass, weighing said slices, and varying the rotary speed of said rotary knife in response to the weight of the slices.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the mass is fed through said cutting path at a substantially constant rate.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the speed of the rotary knife is decreased if the weight of a counted number of the slices is less than a predetermined weight and increased if the weight of the counted number of the slices is more than the predetermined weight.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein each rotary speed change is limited to a selected percentage of the rotary speed.
 13. Apparatus for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality of separate groups, each having a plurality of separate slices comprising: means for feeding said mass into said apparatus, means for slicing said mass to form said plurality of separate slices; means for grouping said slices to form each of said groups sequentially; means for determining whether the weight of each of said groups is within a predetermined weight range; and means for automatically controlling the operational speed of said slicing means in response to said determining means to cause the weights of subsequent groups to approach a weight within said predetermined range.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said slicing means comprises knife means having a variable operational speed.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the operational speed of said knife means is variable in response to weight determinations made by said determining means, the operational speed of said knife means being increased by said controlling means upon a first determination by said determining means that the weight of one of said group is greater than the upper limit of said weight range and the operational speed of said knife means being decreased by said controlling means upon a second determination by said determining means that the weight of one of said groups is less than the lower limit of said weight range.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said feeding means operates to feed said mass at a substantially constant rate.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said slicing means is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said slicing means is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.
 19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said feeding means feeds said mass into said device along a substantially vertical path.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for detecting a trailing end of the mass and for inhibiting said controlling means from decreasing the operational speed of said knife means in response to a subsequent second determination by said determining means.
 21. Apparatus for dividing an elongated mass into individual groups, each group desirably having a weight within a predetermined weight range and each group containing a predetermined number of separate slices comprising: means for feeding said mass into said apparatus; means for slicing said mass to form said separate slices; means for grouping said predetermined number of said separate slices to sequentially form said individual groups; means for determining the weight of each sequentially formed group; means for comparing the weight of each sequentially formed group to said weight range; means for generating an error signal having one or more characteristics indicative of the amount by which said weight of each sequentially formed group either exceeds the upper limit of said weight range or falls short of the lower limit of said weight range, and control means responsive to the receipt of a first error signal indicating that the weight of one of said groups exceeds said upper limit of said weight range to thereby increase the operational speed of said slicing means and response to the receipt of a second error signal indicating that the weight of one of said groups falls short of said lower limit of said weight range to thereby decrease the operational speed of said slicing means.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the operational speed of said feeding means is substantially constant.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for inhibiting decrease in the operational speed of said slicing means in the event that the amount by which the weight of one of said sequentially formed groups falls short of said lower limit of said weight range exceeds a predetermined limit.
 24. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for detecting the trailing end of said elongated mass and, in response thereto, for inhibiting a subsequent change in the operational speed of said slicing means.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for conveying each sequentially formed group away from said weight determining means along a first or a second path, said conveying means being responsive to the receipt of said second error signal to convey the weighed group away from said weight determining means along said first path and in the absence of a receipt of either error signal to convey the weighed group away from said weight determining means along said second path.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said conveying means is responsive to the receipt of either error signal to convey the weighed group away from saId weight determining means along said first path. 